The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-26

AO65 SOA AAA AAOA OAbOu6cll& with May the latest marriage in the circle of acquaintances. The bride- groom was young artist still living hand to mouth on the Bloomsbury dealers. The failing of his friend was an occasion for Walters philosophy.
 "Moncrieff must be mad. He is ambitious-aspires to be independent, yet famous as an artist. Yet he rashly enslaves himself for an income by talk ing wife and setting up an estab- lishment. Why couldn't they have waited until he could be independent of pot boiling and superior to deal ers?-she inspiring him, and he striv- ing for the future. But no, arrived at maturity, he has rushed into marriage, and probably doomed himself to life of mortified ambition"
 Walter delivered himself of this ex- ordium with much feeling, for it was his constant endeavor to convert Mrs. Lamington to his utilitarianism. 1t was not Mrs. Lamington, but May, however, who replied to the attack.
 "Mr. Digby, I detest your doctrine. Is it not heresy to the poetry of youth? Marriage to the truly ambi- tious mind-I do not use the word in it's ignoble sense--is not matter of pounds, shillings and pence, to be en- tered into at the most convenient sea- son, when the wedding cake can be the most expensive and the breakfast the most elaborate, the honeymoon the most luxurious and the establishment the grandest. Marriage, if it really springs from pure love, must come at the 'psychological,' not the political moment"
 May paused and blushed as if ashamed of her vehemence.
 ."You take the correct poetical view of it, May; but what about the prac- tical?" inquired Mrs. Lamington, who was not sure that poetical considera- tion would have any effect upon Wal ter's stoical spirit, even though they were pleaded by May Templeton.
 "I attacked Mir. Digby," May smil- ingly replied, Con the practical as well as the poetical aspect of the subject. He rightly speaks of a woman's inspi- ration to a mans effort, but cannot this inspiration be conveyed in the love of a wife as well as of tiancee? :? Does the love which lures men to in- spring toils,' in the inflated language of Claut'e Melnotte, cease or diminish with the honeymoonP Would the in- spiration be less efficacious or sustain ing because it would be always avail able?"
 Much more did May say in her warm advocacy, every word of which so entered the soul of Walter that as he was leaving he could not refrain from saying:
 "You have completely conquered me, May, by your eloquence. am a convert to your views from this day"
 He left the house with very pleas urable sensation. He could not help thinking that there was hidden sig nificance ill Nays words-the first sudden manifestation of her feelings for him. And naturally during the next few days he was afflicted by alternat- ing hopes and fears. The fourth put him out of his suspense. He was alone with May for precious half-hour at Mrs. Lamington's, in which passed from her lips the only secret which, according to the "Professor at the Breakfast Table," most women have to tell. Walter was recklessly happy, and as anxious to recant by his own act his former heresy as soon as possi- ble.
 With this purpose in view he read fly accepted MT. Templeton's invita- tion to a small dinner party. He had, through the instrumentality of the matrimonial mediator, Mrs, Laming- ton, been present on several such oc- casions, and had eagerly seized such opportunities of intercourse with May as offered. He had, moreover, become welcome guest at MT. Templeton's table-a cool-headed cynical man of business, who enjoyed, nevertheless, after-dinner philosophy by his clever conversation at wine. This evening, however, when the hostess and her lady guests had re- tired to the drawing-room he re- lapsed into stolid silence. He was framing his daring request to MT. Templeton for the hand of his daugh- ter, and took little heed of the flow of soul as it traversed finance, politics, philosophy, the play, and finally set on society small talk. When it reached thus far, however, Walter was startled into attention by ref erence to the marriage of the young artist, which had been so philosoph- ically discussed at Mrs. Lamington's.
 Have you heard about Moncrieff, ,the fellow l introduced to you the other day, marrying the girl who sang so well at your garden parties?" inquired an impecunious Bohemian, who acted as kind of BosVeH in introducing MT. Templeton to people outside the stock exchange, and who has been at a